Six Israeli Arab terrorists will be the first to be freed by the prisoner swap deal for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
A total of 1,027 Palestinian Authority Arab prisoners, including hundreds of multiple murderers with Jewish blood on their hands, are to be freed in the deal. On Tuesday, an initial group of 477 terrorists will be released in the first phase of the exchange, and Shalit will arrive in Israel.
The six, who are Arab citizens of northern Israel, were brought to the Megiddo Prison Monday evening in preparation for their release to their families Tuesday morning.
All are residents of villages such as Umm el-Fahm and Ar'ara and will be allowed to remain in their own homes.
Unlike the celebrations planned for other terrorists to be released in the deal, however, their families plan to collect their terrorist relatives quietly, according to a report broadcast on Voice of Israel government radio.
The lack of celebration is intended to reflect a protest of the fact that three other Israeli Arab terrorists have remained behind, in prison, according to the report.
The Al Aqsa television station affiliated with Hamas has reported that prisoners who are to be transferred to Gaza are expected to cross into the region sometime around 11:00 a.m.